Okaloosa OKs purchase of 19 buses

Published: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 06:23 PM.

FORT WALTON BEACH — A month before they discuss eliminating several public bus routes, Okaloosa County commissioners have approved spending $1.4 million on 19 new buses.

The board voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve the purchase of new cutaway buses for Okaloosa County Transit, the nonprofit group that operates the public bus system. The cost will be covered by grant funds from the Federal Transit Administration.

County Commissioner Wayne Harris voted against the purchase. Harris has been a vocal critic of the county subsidizing OCT, which has seen increasing budget shortfalls in recent years.

“I can’t in good conscience support this,” said Harris, who has advocated cutting the bus routes that are losing riders.

Under the purchase, the county would get two 29-foot buses and 13 23-foot buses for fixed routes and four 23-foot buses for its para-transit door-to-door service.

County Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert told the board the FTA recommends public transit buses be replaced at four years or 100,000 miles.

County Commissioner Don Amunds questioned whether the replacements were necessary and pointed out that many county vehicles are being driven at higher mileage.

Kampert said the replacement is about safety and that the county is “hemorrhaging money on the maintenance” of the buses.

“It’s getting to the question of safety,” he said. “These are heavy vehicles, and they stop and start in traffic.”

On March 18, the board is set to hold a public hearing on the elimination of transit route 33, which serves U.S. Highway 98 in Destin. They also are expected to discuss eliminating some other routes in the south county.

FORT WALTON BEACH — A month before they discuss eliminating several public bus routes, Okaloosa County commissioners have approved spending $1.4 million on 19 new buses.

The board voted 4-1 Tuesday to approve the purchase of new cutaway buses for Okaloosa County Transit, the nonprofit group that operates the public bus system. The cost will be covered by grant funds from the Federal Transit Administration.

County Commissioner Wayne Harris voted against the purchase. Harris has been a vocal critic of the county subsidizing OCT, which has seen increasing budget shortfalls in recent years.

“I can’t in good conscience support this,” said Harris, who has advocated cutting the bus routes that are losing riders.

Under the purchase, the county would get two 29-foot buses and 13 23-foot buses for fixed routes and four 23-foot buses for its para-transit door-to-door service.

County Growth Management Director Elliot Kampert told the board the FTA recommends public transit buses be replaced at four years or 100,000 miles.

County Commissioner Don Amunds questioned whether the replacements were necessary and pointed out that many county vehicles are being driven at higher mileage.

Kampert said the replacement is about safety and that the county is “hemorrhaging money on the maintenance” of the buses.

“It’s getting to the question of safety,” he said. “These are heavy vehicles, and they stop and start in traffic.”

On March 18, the board is set to hold a public hearing on the elimination of transit route 33, which serves U.S. Highway 98 in Destin. They also are expected to discuss eliminating some other routes in the south county.